ONE million lights (Shining light)

Changemaker: Mark Lozano

Country of Implementation: The Philippines

Roughly 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity. They resort to the yellowish flickering light of hazardous and costly gas lamps to light up their homes at night. People suffer from toxic fumes, less productive environments, and high gas expenses, preventing them from improving their lives. Darkness is a problem that we need to shed more light on.

“One Million Lights Philippines” (OML PH) is an awareness campaign started by Mark and his friends in an effort to improve the lives of people living without light. Through the use of social media, traditional media, and presentations, the campaign (consisting of short videos, photo essays, and other marketing materials) calls for action to volunteer, donate, and form partnerships to address the problem of darkness. OML PH aims to use this momentum in expanding its lighting projects across the country.

OML PH is a nationally awarded, youth-led, non-profit organisation that improves the quality of life of people through better lighting. This is achieved by providing clean, safe, and accessible solar-powered lights to impoverished, off-grid communities around the country.

Today, OML PH has lit up over eighty communities with over 12,400 solar-powered lights, changing the lives of over 70,000 Filipinos around the country. The initiative has created radical improvements in the lives of people in the aspects of education, livelihood, health, savings, and environment.

OML PH’s recent project, called “Shining the Light on Darkness,” is set to increase their capacity to scale operations sustainably.

For more information, visit: www.onemillionlightsph.org